Written by Eboy...
The 2008-09 season promises to be another uber-competitive race to the trophy that may rival last year's Greatest.Regular. Season .Of .All .Time.
Let's start in the East where the Champs sit. The Celtics seem to be poised for another strong run.....but I can't seem to shake the feeling that the Big Three is going to miss the Large Fourth, James Posey, being there to take up the slack and provide the hustle and guile they don't seem to have on that bench roster right now. The rest of the field is wide open.
Cleveland, led by the best player in the league, Lebron James, made a nice move in getting a strong, young, straight shooting PG in Mo Williams that may give him that compliment that he needs to move forward in his career. Will push the Celts once April rolls around.
The Pistons, well they're the Pistons, they'll have a strong regular season, will be maddeningly overconfident at times and advance to the second round with little resistance. I think their string of Conference Finals appearances ends this season though. New coach, no major moves, Kwame Brown.....not a good look for a champions aspirations.
The other possible title chaser from the East is the newly reformed Philadelphia 76ers. Adding Elton Brand is nice. Moving up in the East is really possible...getting past three veteran teams.....not so easy....at least not this season.
The rest of the East........
Orlando/Toronto,-nice, but not nice enough,
Atlanta/Miami/Charlotte-all will be exciting, not really worth a shit come playoff time though
Chicago/Washington/Indiana-team synergy and injuries will be the killers to these three squads
Milwaukee/Jersey/the Knicks-not ready for anything
On to the big bad West. So many strong teams, only one spot to give to the top team.
Let's start at the very top. Let me get the "favorites" out of the way first. No toughness, no true killer that wants it when it matters most(sorry Kobe) and a coach that seems to have lost his magic in the Finals....can only mean one thing.....disappointment for the La La faithful. Their season will be great....they'll run through the first round like world beaters and then meet head on with a couple of squads that won't give a shit about perception.
The Rockets.......interesting to say the least. Health is key.....the push to show the world their better than a first round exit is paramount, but if they run into the Lakers in the second round, the combination of a huge (Yao), talented & unafraid (Scola, sorry Pau) frontcourt and the ability to put either Ron Artest and Shane Battier on a certain Mr. Bryant can be series changing. Dangerous squad.
The Hornets....rough, ready and raw.....like a modern-day Big Daddy Kane. The "buzz" around this squad is going to be huge this season. Remember James Posey and his missing ingredient to the Celts hopes at repeating? Yeah....he's eating etouffee on the regular now. Oh, and the real MVP of last season plays there. Gangsta!
The Spurs.....it's an odd numbered year, which means The Robot has been recalibrated for a title run......I'm not sure if that's going to be enough for this odd number, though. Still a force to be reckoned with and health is key for them too.
The Jazz? Tough, hard nosed, great one/two combo, no nights off playing these dudes. If all things go right...they can be problematic for anyone.
Dallas and Phoenix......good regular season teams.....remolded.....can be either wild cards in the playoff race or quick exits, depending on where the teams jump off from. I'd be more willing to put money on the Suns to play longer into May.
Portland......the dark horse.....full of young cats and dangerous to a fault. Their youth will probably undo their season in the first round.....but not until they put a scare into one of the top teams. The team of the future.
Denver, a ton of offense, little concept of D, team will be fun to watch...not much more and just a step above....
The Clippers, Sacramento and Golden State......not ready to deal with any of the top teams in this conference. Lot's of changes....no threat to win more than 45 games.
T-Wolves, the Grizz & The Thunder-weak, crap and shitty.
So my pick? In the East......I'm going with the Celts.....by the hairs on KG's chinny, chin, chin....it's not going to be easy.
The West.....I see the Hornets outlasting everyone on the brilliance and balance of Chris Paul and once the Finals roll around....the team best served by their strengths will be just a little too strong for the defending champs and a new hero will be born. All hail, CP3!
Welcome
Over the course of human history, greatness has melded together at one time or another, creating fused unity that can sometimes be history changing. Bonnie & Clyde, The Beatles, Marvin & Tammy, Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael & Scottie, Biggie & Tupac, Shaq & Kobe, Paris & Nicole! Now, the 21st century welcomes the next great movement to rewrite the history books and change the rules. It's us, ya'll. Ain't no stoppin' us now.
"We, the elite Linkstigators, have formed like Voltron, We could have used our powers for evil. It was quite tempting, actually. But instead, we have decided to bless the internets with the most slammin' blog (no pun intended). A blog which is dedicated mainly to the game of basketball, but also to diverse topics such as Mountain Dew Code Red, Democratic primaries, Guitar Hero 3 and post-structuralism. We are sponsored by Nabisco."
The Players
Cheryl
Cheryl will offer “A Sistah’s Point of View” (ASPOV) to this madness, because as you will read over the next few months, it will be needed. I see connections, like Haley Joel Osment sees dead people. Connections between modern sports, culture, politics, race and racialization, art and dance, religion and myth. I will try to point these out without being too esoteric or dogmatic (but if I am, sue me). But what you can always expect is that I will be open, honest, and often catty. (That was an awfully un-feminist thing to say, huh?)”
Eboy
White Hot Eboy, or just plain E, is a polarizing figure. On the SLAM site, the place of his e-origin, Eboy seems to move between love for his regular foils to sheer unbridled hate for his detractors. Here in this blogventure, look for Eboy to speak on basketball in all forms, movies, tv, politics, sports in general and anything else that he can throw his opinion at. Besides, he's legally obligated to be truthful and forthright, so stay ready, an E-storm is brewing.
TADOne
"We, the elite Linkstigators, have formed like Voltron, We could have used our powers for evil. It was quite tempting, actually. But instead, we have decided to bless the internets with the most slammin' blog (no pun intended). A blog which is dedicated mainly to the game of basketball, but also to diverse topics such as Mountain Dew Code Red, Democratic primaries, Guitar Hero 3 and post-structuralism. We are sponsored by Nabisco."
The Players
Cheryl
Cheryl will offer “A Sistah’s Point of View” (ASPOV) to this madness, because as you will read over the next few months, it will be needed. I see connections, like Haley Joel Osment sees dead people. Connections between modern sports, culture, politics, race and racialization, art and dance, religion and myth. I will try to point these out without being too esoteric or dogmatic (but if I am, sue me). But what you can always expect is that I will be open, honest, and often catty. (That was an awfully un-feminist thing to say, huh?)”
Eboy
White Hot Eboy, or just plain E, is a polarizing figure. On the SLAM site, the place of his e-origin, Eboy seems to move between love for his regular foils to sheer unbridled hate for his detractors. Here in this blogventure, look for Eboy to speak on basketball in all forms, movies, tv, politics, sports in general and anything else that he can throw his opinion at. Besides, he's legally obligated to be truthful and forthright, so stay ready, an E-storm is brewing.
TADOne
TADOne, or just plain TAD, is quite possibly the most sane member of this blog group, although, that is not saying much. My sarcasm, or just plain lack of empathy, has been known to reach epic levels of true disdain. Because of this, I have a love of binge drinking and mindless humor. Therapy is good.
Tariq
I am a sensitive, delicate soul. I use sarcasm and cynicism as self-defense mechanisms, douchebag. I do this to protect my faberge-egg-like psyche. If only I could increase my self-confidence, maybe then I could achieve a moment of sincerity. But I can't. So instead I have to be content with writing sublime pieces which delve into the realms of basketball, football (American), football (real), literature, religion, The Legend of Zelda and Reese's Pieces. I may even occassionally shed some insight into the complexities of the human condition. No promises, though.
My turn-ons are non-smokers and world peace. My turn-offs include crystal meth and springtime.
AR
You may (though most likely don't) know me as commenter H to the izzo from SLAMonline.I will no longer answer to that moniker-ever.I'm retiring only to return again,but this won't be no Linkin Park collaboration.My list of lifetime achievements include being the second most foreign member.The youngest member,the least educated member.I roughly rank as the 3rd most white member and am three time Vodka chugging champion in my district.I intend to prove that basketball opinion and having little else better to do are a dangerous mix.I am usually wrong and am possessed by the ghost of Charles Oakley's right fist.
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30 comments:
"buzz". That was cute. I'd rather roll with Lang's predictions but good effort, E. And I'd just like to announce that I made Noyz for the third straight issue. They used some of the old material that I sent them last issue. Wonder how long I can keep this streak alive.
How do you keep doing it B? You getting paid?
Kobe will have a nightmare of a time playing Ron AND Shane AND getting to the rack vs. Yao, Landry, Scola, Dorsey. Hope Dikembe comes back later in the season too.
Hmmmm.....where is everyone else's predictions? I thought we we're grouping it?
E: Do you know how LONG that ish would have been?? No, i'm giving it to people in doses.
I agree with the majority of your predictions, especially with the hornets, they're gonna be sick this year. I see a bit more potential in Milwaukee though.
No love for the Thunder - the *real* team of the future?!
Who knew Ryne was a comedian?
Well, if love means expecting to see a CBA level product from night to night, then maybe I do have a little.....shit I root for the Heat.
What should i be more impressed about, that this was a good article or that eboy can write a good article?
Funny.....I did this in about 10 minutes....Is hould continue with that trend.
My season preview on Hibachi 2.0, y'all!
Me no likely Kobe either, but "no killer instinct" is quite the misleading lie.
I like your predictions though.
Hey, I'm just working off his latest body of work.
Yeah, hitting a 4pointer at a crucial point in the gold medal game on the world's largest stage doesn't really mean he has a killer instinct. I guess he has to actually commit murder to get that label.
Well, he has commited a felony......but.....
Oh, and from what I've heard, the Olympics don't mean shit, so squash that.
Banging lying sluts is a felony now? Who knew?
You should read more instead of trying to write witty limericks all the time, B. Just saying. Take that as you'd like and maybe some day I'll forward you a copy of sealed documents I've read. If you're a good boy and all.
Ooh ooh!!! I wanna see them. Pretty please!
No, you really don't TAD.....our dislike is strong enough as it is.
C'mon E. Sure you want to show us the documents. You do. Really.
I didn't realize E was that whores attorney, it all makes sense now. New shit on Where Basketball B. Longs!
It's 100% witty limmerick free so you'll enjoy it, E.
Wow, you are retarded. I can't believe people read this shit more than once.
TAD, thank you for your offer. I'm really flattered and I'd love to write a piece for you guys sometime.
Good concise preview, Eboy! Like everyone else right now, I'm really curious to see if a bunch of teams will live up to their promise.
What do you guys think about the Cavs, really? Eastern contenders, or mere pretenders? Now that their new guys have had a training camp to gel, I definitely think they'll improve... but how much? Early in Lebron's career, his Cav teams had no shooters, which led to lots of losses. This team, however, seems to have as its 2nd offensive option an undersized 3 point-shooting backcourt. Nonetheless, this is the deepest Bron-led Cav team, so we'll see I guess?
I actually think the Pistons'll do better than they did last year, due to Flip's absence. His players seemed to have tuned him out barely months into his tenure; the only reason why he was kept on for so long as coach was because of the regular-season success of the team. Curry should have a lot more command and control, and by the looks of how the Pistons've played the last 2 games, they look really good.
See, this is why I have love for Joel; he is a smart man.
Anytime you have something you want to put down in words, just let me, izzo, E, Cheryl, ot Tariq know. Pretty much anything goes with us.
Tad, I have a couple of new articles on Where Basketball B Longs that you really need to comment on.
Would love to CP3 and co. take the title, but have a feeling - an unfortunate one - that the Laker's are walking away winners in June.
**************Addendum to the preview: After today's deal bringing Allen Iverson to the Pistons, Detroit, in my eyes, goes from overrated frontrunner to hungry and extremely exciting squad that will turn heads until the playoffs roll around.
Depending on how they gel, pencil them in one of the Eastern Conference Finals spots.
Regarding the Nuggets, they now have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs (due to a more balanced offensive approach) and more depth in the frontcourt. they won't beat one of the top West squads in a series, but they can be scary for 6 games.
TADOne is the man! His insight is always on point and thoughtful! Honest is one of the most knowledgeable Pistons fans i know.
Holla!
John W. Davis
www.pistonscast.com
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